Trunk-tray hinge.



PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

J. J. CANNAN. TRUNK TRAY HINGE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5. 1905.

WW1/Leones JOHN J. GANNAN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

TRUNK-TRAY HINGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LPatented Nov. 26, 1907.

Application filed August 5. 1905. Serial No. 272.870.

T all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. CANNAN, of

- Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State full, clear, and exact description of the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to devices for supporting the top trays of travelers trunks and it has for its object to provide an improved hinge adapted to be carried on the tray and to detaohably engage the trunk body whereby the tray may be rotated into the lid or cover of the trunk when opened, to afford access to the interior thereof, or may be entirely removed.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a travelers trunk showing a tray hinge constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lid or cover opened and the tray in elevated position. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the position of one of the hinge members when the tray is being inserted in the trunk. Figs. 4 and 5 are detached perspective views of the hinge members.

Similar reference numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.

In illustrating my invention I have shown it in connection with a trunk comprising a body 1 and a lid or cover 2 secured thereto by the usual hinges 3 attached to the rear walls of the respective parts and having their pintles located beneath the edge of the binding strip 4 which overlaps the joint between the meeting edges of the lid and trunk body, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The top tray of the trunk, indicated by 5, is located in the usual position the bottom part thereof being within the walls of the trunk body and the top extending into the lid or cover 2.

In order to sup ort the tray and permit its forward edge to Fe rotated upwardly either with the lid, or cover, or separately therefrom to afford access to inner parts of the trunk, without removing it bodily therefrom, I provide a form of hinge connection which is carried on the tray and is adapted to detachabljT engage the trunk body, whereby when the tray is removed the trunk body is free from all projections or hinge parts which may in any m'anner interfere with the insertion or removal of articles therefrom. The hinge comprises a member 6, secured by rivets or screws 7 to the rear wall 8 of the tray, and a second member 9 pivoted thereto. The last mentioned member is provided with a fiat horizontal portion 10, e ual in width to the thickness of the Wall of t e trunk body, and the de ending legs 11 and 12 adapted to straddle said wall and to engage respectively at the inner and outer sides thereof. The

ivotal connection between the parts of the inge is formed b y the intle 13 which is supported at its ends in t e knuckles 14 on the member/6 and receives, at its central portion the knuckle 15 on the member 9. The inner leg 11, on the latter member, isextended beneath the end of the outer leg 12 and is adapted to engage the adjacent wall of the tray at a point a sufficient distance below the pintle to hold the member in osition to readily slip over the edge of the slde, or wall of the trunk body. In placing the hinge on the tray the member 6 which is relatively stationary thereon is located so as to position the extremity of the longer or inner leg 11 on the movable member about on alinement with the bottom of the tray so that when the latter is inserted in the trunk body said leg will be first to engage the edge of the wall of the trunk and serve to guide the hinge to its seat, and prevent the shorter leg 12 from impro er engagement, 'as shown in Fig. 3, thus ena )ling the tray to be placed in position without requiring the exercise of especial care on the part of the operator.

In forming the knuckles 14 they are curved outwardly beneath the pintle enabling the member 6 to be secured to the tray above the member 9 and to be made somewhat longer than the latter affording greater opportunity to separate the rivets or screws 7, whereby a firm attachment may be made to the tray without liability of splitting or breaking the side of its thin wooden frame. The knuckle 15 is preferably made integrally with the member 9 by severing the sides and bottom edge of a tongue shaped portion in the leg 11 and curling it to extend outwardly beneath the pintle, as shown in Fig. 4. The center of the pintle 13 is preferably located beneath the top of the horizontal portion 10 to support t e side of the tray c ose to the edge of the trunk body so that its op osite or for- Ward side will not be projected beyond the corresponding side of the lid or cover when both of said parts are opened by rotating them upwardly on'their different pivotal centers.

A hinge constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted for the purpose described as it forms a pivotal support for the side of a trunk tray which is carried entirely thereon and as it coperates with the upper edge of the wall of the trunk body other attachments are not required thereon with which the operator is required to place the tray in engagement. The relatively movable member gravitates into engag'cment with the side ofthe trayI when the latter is removed and is always in position to guide'the tray into the trunk body andto automatically seat itself in operative position.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a trunk, a cover therefor, a tray and supports Within the trunk below the upper edge thereof, of a.

| hinge forming a pivotal connection between the tray and trunk embodying a member secured to the side of the tray and a second member pivoted to the irst above the bottom of the tray having downwardly-de ending le s straddling the edge of the trun the inner eg being longer than the outer and arran ed to rest against the side of the tray sai member being plivotally connected to the first member on t e side of its longer leg to g'uide the legs of the last mentioned hinge member into coperative relation with the edge of the trunk when the tray is inserted within the latter.

2.' The combination with a trunk, a hinged .cover for the trunk, and a trunk tray, of a hinge secured to the tray and embodying a member adapted to straddle the upper edge of the trunk and to be held thereto by the engagement of the edge of the cover there- Wit 1 A JoHN J. oANNAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN VAN RYNE, JNO. A. WILLIAMS. 

